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Pteris is often confused with:
Lygodium japonicum Lygodium japonica
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Nephrolepis exaltata Nephrolepis exaltata
Peperomia caperata Form
Platycerium bifurcatum Platycerium bifurcatum
Pteris has some common insect problems:
Florida Fern Caterpillar

Cretan Brake Fern Pteris

Phonetic Spelling
TARE-iss
Description

Pteris is a genus of 300 species of ferns that are native to tropical and subtropical regions.  It is often grown as a houseplant. It is terrestrial and rhizomous and has an erect to creeping habit. This plant is seen in subtropics and tropics and is a common member to be cultivared.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Pinnae with elongated narrow segments
  • Sori marginal covered by inrolled margin
  • Fronds often variegated above

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No significant diseases or pests. Watch for Florida Fern Caterpillar.

VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Pteris cretica
    slow growing, 18 to 24 inches tall, pale green fronds, arching, 1 to 5 pairs of simple or forked pinnae
  • Pteris cretica 'Albolineata'
    grayish-green fronds with wide center white stripe
  • Pteris cretica "Mayii'
    18 to 24 inches tall, narrow green fronds wide white center band
  • Pteris cretica var. cretica 'Ping Wu'
    dense, dwarf, narrow fronds
Pteris cretica, Pteris cretica 'Albolineata', Pteris cretica "Mayii', Pteris cretica var. cretica 'Ping Wu'
Tags:
#houseplant#interiorscape#fern#deer resistant#fantz#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#tropical feel
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Pteris cretica
    slow growing, 18 to 24 inches tall, pale green fronds, arching, 1 to 5 pairs of simple or forked pinnae
  • Pteris cretica 'Albolineata'
    grayish-green fronds with wide center white stripe
  • Pteris cretica "Mayii'
    18 to 24 inches tall, narrow green fronds wide white center band
  • Pteris cretica var. cretica 'Ping Wu'
    dense, dwarf, narrow fronds
Pteris cretica, Pteris cretica 'Albolineata', Pteris cretica "Mayii', Pteris cretica var. cretica 'Ping Wu'
Tags:
#houseplant#interiorscape#fern#deer resistant#fantz#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#tropical feel
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pteris
    Family:
    Pteridaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe, Tropical Asia, Africa, South America, North America
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Fern
    Houseplant
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Erect
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Fronds
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves/fronds are pinnately compound to decompound, are often variegated in cultivation, and the basal pinnae are often forked. Pinnae is elongated, linear to elliptic lanceolate, green marginally and often variegated towards the medial area, entire, and folded inward.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Houseplants
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer